'Arrow' exec talks John Barrowman casting: 'I'm a Doctor Who fan'

The producers of new series Arrow have talked about the casting of John Barrowman.

The Doctor Who and Torchwood star will play a character known only as the "well-dressed man" on the CW superhero drama.

"I'm a lifelong Doctor Who fan - like Peter Davison / Colin Baker lifelong fan," Andrew Kreisberg told Collider. "So, when John Barrowman's name came up for this part... I basically laid out the plan that we had for his character, and who he is and how he relates to everybody and what's going on, because we didn't have a lot written.

"I said, 'So, I guess I'm asking you to take a leap of faith'. He said, 'It's funny, seven years ago, [former Who showrunner] Russell T Davies told me to take a leap of faith with him, and I hear your passion and creativity the way I heard his. So, let's do it!' That was the best phone call I've ever gotten."

Kreisberg added that Barrowman's character on Arrow is "completely different" to his role of Captain Jack Harkness.

"He's just such a tremendously talented actor, and [his casting is] one of the things we're most proud of with the show," he said.

"I'll be honest, I haven't seen Torchwood and, not having seen him in Torchwood... I come to his performance on my own terms," he explained. "[John] lights up the screen and he really energises the actors that he has scenes with."

Arrow airs on Wednesday nights at 8/7c on The CW and will debut on Sky1 in the UK on October 22.

Watch a promo for the next episode of Arrow below:

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